Joining-link for chains.



- a. E. 's'co JOINING LINK FOR OH AINS.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 1, 1909.

Patented Apr.26,1910.

VVUQ Mom ZEN/ attozmeq UNITE Para enrich.

GEORGE E. snow, on NEW roan, n. 2., ASSIGNOR or onnnnnr TO .ronarmns r. m. MYER, on NEW YORK, n. r.

' Be it known that I,

' acitizen of the United JOINING-LINK FOR CHAINS.

l Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 1, 1909 Gnonon E. Scorr,

States, residing in the borough. of Manhattan, city. county. and

State of New York,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Joining- Links for Chains.

a specification.

of which the following is My present invention relates to 'an improved means of maximum chcapness, whereby chain easily and rapidly connected and this improvement will be found nected simplicity and links may be and disconparticularly useful in connection with chain treads for automobile tires.

In order to increase the driving and climbing power of automobile wheels, it has been a common practice of metal chain work on ing forced into the road to employ a system the tires whiclnbesurface by the weight of the machine, produce the increased tractive effect aimed at. take the form of two rim chains on opposite These generally sides of the tire, connected by short cross chains linked at intervals into the rim chains. These are usually arranged to be easily ap plied to the tires when collapsed, but to embrace the tire so tightly when it is inflated as .to hold the chains firinl to the great wear on t stretching 111 the chain system be understood, however,

y in place.

of both rim chains, and to other causes, comes necessary to undo connections between links and my improved de- Owing he cross chains, to chains and cross it frequently beand replace the at various points ate these operations It is to that my nvention is applicable to all kinds of chains.

lllS invention, in a shown as applied to the preferred form, is chain treads of automobiles, in the accompanying drawing,

wherein- Figure 1 is a. side elevation of a portion of invention, Fig. 2 IS a p tread spread flat and wheel, Fig. 3 is a side view an auton'iobile tire, furnished with the ortion of the chain removed from the of a oining link with the guard shown in section, and Fig. 6% is a sectional view of the same on the line 4: in Fig. 3.

I have shown the wheel rim at. 10 and the inflated tire at 11. A chain isshown respecti portion of each rim vely at l2-and 13,

I struction, the guard I and three of the cross chains which extend across the tread are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at 14. The joining links, whereby union is accomplished between adjacent links, areshown at 15, and, as shown in Fig. 2, these may be employed in connection either with the connection of the ends of the cross chains with links in the pose of closing the circular connection 0 the rim chains. Each joining link has preferably the form shown clearly in Fig 3, and has an opening near the middle of. one side large enough to admit the links with which connection is to be'made, and which are shown on each side of the link 15 in Fig. 3.

The closing of the opening and the securing of the adjacent links to prevent accidental separation is accomplished by means of a guard, 16, which straddles the ends of the link abutting upon the opening, and preferably extends entirely across the width of the link so that the tips of the guard .embrace the side the opening.

The guard is adapted to be removed laterally, or by movement at right angles to the length of the link and I prefer to construct this guard of resilient metal and to give it the shape shown whereby the open side of the link 15 is embraced by the guard over more than a half circle. By use of this con- 16 is-forced laterally onto the link 15, springing open to pass the open side of-the link, and then springing closed again, so as to tightly clip both sides. in order to facilitate removal .of the guard, I prefer to provide the same with a. convenient pushing edge upon which pressure may be conveniently brought to bear -for thrusting oil the guard. In the specific form shown this is=done by making an inset, 17, in one or both of the edges of the uard, so placed that a. flat instrument, such or instance as a key, may be introduced within the inset and between the side of the link and the longitudinal ed e of the inset, which edge then constitutes the pushing edge, by pressure upon which the guard is forced oil of the link, when the same is to be disconnected. When the guard is thus removed, the opening 16 is free, so that the adjoining links may readily be removed.

One advantage of this form of link, in connection with the chain tread of an autorim chains, or for the an of the link which is opposite mobile, is that, when used at the ends of the l link and grip both sides thereof, substaneross chains, it may be placed edgewise as tially as described. shown, and thus tend to hold the rim chain 3. A joining link for chains, open on one away from the tire, thus lessening wear. l side, in. combination with a laterally remov- 5 What I claim isable guard made of resilient metal adapted 2g 1. A joining link for chains open on one 1 to close said opening and spring onto said side, in combination with a guard adapted link so as to clip both sides thereof, said I to close said opening and grip one side of the guard having an inset at its edge arranged link, and arranged so as to be removable by l to provide a space for introduction of a tool 1U lateral movement With relation to the link to 1 between the side of the link and the pushing 25 free said opening, substantially as described. edge of said inset, substantially as described. 2. A joining link for chains, open on one GEORGE E. SCOTT. side, in combination with a laterally remov- Witnesses: able guard made of resilient metal adapted H. S. MACKAYE,

, l l l 5 to e ose said opening and to spring onto he i M. A. BUTLER, 

